Buzz

Nominations have been announced for the 2018 Drama League Awards for Outstanding Production of a Play, Outstanding Revival of a Play, Outstanding Production of a Musical, Outstanding Revival of a Musical and the much-coveted Distinguished Performance Award. The nods were announced by Tony winners Harriet Harris, Julie White and two-time Tony nominee Christopher Sieber at Sardi's Restaurant.

The nominations announcement begins a month of celebrations leading up to the 84th Annual Drama League Awards, which will be held at the Marriott Marquis Times Square on May 18 at 11:30am. As previously announced, 2018 Special Recognition Award recipients include Wicked Tony winner Idina Menzel—star of the upcoming Skintight—who will receive the Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theater Award; Tony winner Casey Nicholaw, currently represented on Broadway with Mean Girls, Aladdin and The Book of Mormon, who will be honored with The Founders Award for Excellence in Directing; and the National Endowment for the Arts, which will receive the Unique Contribution to the Theater Award.

First awarded in 1922 and formalized in 1935, The Drama League Awards are the oldest theatrical honors in America. They are the only major theater awards chosen by a cross-section of the theater community—specifically, by the industry professionals, producers, artists, audiences and critics who are Drama League members nationwide.

The Drama League acknowledges previous recipients of the Distinguished Performance Award who appeared in Broadway or off-Broadway productions this season. As the award can only be won once in a performer's lifetime, they are ineligible to be nominated again; however, their exemplary work is recognized and applauded.

Norbert Leo Butz, My Fair Lady and The Whirligig
Kathleen Chalfant, For Peter Pan on Her 70th Birthday
Nathan Lane, Angels in America
John Lithgow, John Lithgow: Stories by Heart
Bernadette Peters, Hello, Dolly!
Mark Rylance, Farinelli and the King

Special Recognition (previously announced)
Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theater: Idina Menzel
Founders Award for Excellence in Directing: Casey Nicholaw
Unique Contribution to the Theater: The National Endowment for the Arts